Preaxial Polydactyly

photo by Janelle Aby, MD

This infant has polydactyly of the thumb as an isolated physical finding. There was no family history and the finding was unilateral. Preaxial polydactyly is much less common (and more likely to be related to an underlying medical condition) than the postaxial variety. Surgical correction is generally delayed for several months to lessen the risk of general anesthesia.